Secrecy and Security News

August 2010

Darpa's Star Hacker Looks to WikiLeak-Proof Pentagon by Spencer Ackerman, Wired Danger Room, August 31. "Tomorrow’s WikiLeakers may have to be sneakier than just dumping military docs onto a Lady Gaga disc. The futurists at Darpa are working on a project that would make it harder for troops to funnel classified material to WikiLeaks — or to foreign governments."

White House Announces New Export Control System, news release, August 30. "These changes – in what we control, how we control it, how we enforce those controls and how we manage our controls – will help strengthen our national security by focusing our efforts on controlling the most critical products and technologies and by enhancing the competitiveness of key U.S. manufacturing and technology sectors."

Defense looks for ways to detect insiders stealing classified files by Bob Brewin, NextGov, August 26. "The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency kicked off on Wednesday a project that would give the Defense Department the ability to quickly detect and stop insiders intent on stealing information from military and government computer systems."

State officials can hear secrets too by Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post Top Secret America blog, August 24. "Governors and other local and state officials likely will get more access to classified information from the Feds, according to a new executive order signed by President Obama."

Vast number of military bands may not be music to Gates's ears by Walter Pincus, Washington Post, August 24. The purpose of Army bands, and others run by all the military services, as described in the field manual, is to "provide music throughout the entire spectrum of operations to instill in our forces the will to fight and win, foster the support of our citizens, and promote America's interests at home and abroad."

Army intelligence buys intelligence like Netflix? by Dana Hedgpeth and Bill Arkin, Washington Post Top Secret America blog, August 20. "Experts say that the vast majority of the 'intelligence' needed by the United States is available on the worldwide web. But that has not stopped Military Periscope from continuing to sell its subscription services to the U.S. government."

Antiwar activists rally around suspected leaker by David Dishneau, Associated Press, August 20. "The Army private suspected in one of the largest unauthorized disclosures of classified information in U.S. history has become a hero to many anti-war activists who have joined an international effort to free him."

Are risks from WikiLeaks overstated by government? by Robert Burns, Associated Press, August 17. "Although the Pentagon warns that WikiLeaks could have blood on its hands for publishing classified U.S. war documents that name Afghan sources, history shows that similar disclosures have not always led to violence."

Security Reminder, Department of Homeland Security, August 13. "All DHS personnel are reminded that just because classified information appears in the public domain it does not mean that the information has been declassified by proper authority."

White House Revamps Ethics Team, Without a Familiar Name by Eric Lichtblau, New York Times, August 7. "The pending departure of Mr. Obama’s 'ethics czar,' Norman Eisen, is generating angst among outside ethics watchdogs who admire his work, and more than a bit of glee from lobbyists who have clashed with him over restrictions."

Grid Is Vulnerable to Cyber-Attacks by Siobhan Gorman, Wall Street Journal, August 3. "Computer networks controlling the electric grid are plagued with security holes that could allow intruders to redirect power delivery and steal data, the Energy Department warned in a recent report."

ABC News Interview with Secretary Gates on WikiLeaks Release of Classified Records, August 1. "My attitude on this is that there are two -- two areas of culpability. One is legal culpability. And that's up to the Justice Department and others. That's not my arena. But there's also a moral culpability. And that's where I think the verdict is guilty on WikiLeaks. They have put this out without any regard whatsoever for the consequences."